By Nneka Nwogwugwu
An Ad Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives has begun probe of the award of Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway project for the $3.2bn, when there is a subsisting N72bn rehabilitation project on the same rail line.
The committee chaired by Abubakar Nalaraba issued the query at its investigative hearing in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the Punch, the committee asked why the project, which was awarded since 2011, was abandoned after substantial payments had been made and the contracts had yet to be completed.
The three companies awarded the contracts, namely CGGC Global Projects Nigeria Limited, Lingo Nigeria Limited and Eser Contracting and Industry Company Incorporation, as well as the Nigeria Railway Corporation appeared before the panel.
The Bureau of Public Procurement was, however, absent at the hearing.
The lawmakers also queried disparities in the reports submitted by the contractors and the NRC over the project.
